First-time blinkers did the trick for 'TDN Rising Star' New Year's Eve, who uncorked a very impressive last-to-first rally to upend Friday's GII Edgewood S. on the Churchill turf.
A head-turning debut winner Dec. 10 at Fair Grounds over three next-out graduates, the blaze-faced chestnut added a narrow optional claiming tally there Jan. 29. She was bounced around in the stretch of the Mar. 12 Allen Black Cat Lacombe S. back in NOLA Mar. 12, and had to settle for third that day at 9-5.
More or less ignored here by the wagering public despite the equipment tweak and switch to hot-riding Luis Saez, New Year's Eve traveled slightly awkwardly past the stands for the first turn and around the bend, but eventually settled in at the caboose behind splits of :24.07 and :48.64. She caught the eye when given her cue to quicken into a six-furlong split of 1:13 flat, and continued to inhale rivals while out in the clear approaching the stretch. Looming large over the top, she blew them away from there to defy the odds.
“She relaxed really well,” said Saez. “I was able to save ground around the first turn. I came out a little after a half-mile because I saw horses in front stopping. At the top of the stretch, she was in the clear and boom. She was loving it. I could feel how happy she was.”
Walsh added, “She's been just a bit slow mentally. But she's getting it bit by bit. So we gave her some time to figure things out, then we gave her a push. We put blinkers on her for her last two works and she seemed to pick it up a bit. I was quietly confident that she'd be better today. And she was.”
Friday, Churchill Downs
EDGEWOOD S. PRESENTED BY FORCHT BANK-GII, $500,000, Churchill Downs, 5-6, 3yo, f, 1 1/16mT, 1:43.39, fm.
1–NEW YEAR'S EVE, 118, f, 3, by Kitten's Joy
1st Dam: Awesome Rafaela (Brz), by Elusive Quality
2nd Dam: Linda Rafaela (Brz), by Bin Ajwaad (Ire)
3rd Dam: Poli Arumba, by Executioner
'TDN Rising Star' 1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. ($110,000 RNA Ylg '20 KEESEP; $105,000 Ylg '20 FTKOCT). O-Marc Detampel; B-Stud TNT LLC (KY); T-Brendan P. Walsh; J-Luis Saez. $294,500. Lifetime Record: 4-3-0-1, $353,600. Werk Nick Rating: C. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–McKulick (GB), 118, f, 3, Frankel (GB)–Astrelle (Ire), by Makfi (GB). (180,000gns Ylg '20 TATOCT). O-Klaravich Stables, Inc.; B-Essafinaat UK Ltd (GB); T-Chad C. Brown. $95,000.
3–Dolce Zel (Fr), 120, f, 3, Zelzal (Fr)–Dolce Attesa (GB), by Dr Fong. O-Madaket Stables LLC, Michael Dubb, and Robert V. LaPenta; B-Scuderia Micolo Di Nicola Galli & C. SNC (FR); T-Chad C. Brown. $47,500.
Margins: 2 3/4, 4HF, HF. Odds: 14.60, 2.30, 2.00.
Also Ran: Kneesnhips, Beechnut Trophy-(DH), Dream Lith-(DH), Tap Dancing Lady, My Philly Twirl, Spicer, An Agent Mistake.
Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.
Pedigree Notes:
New Year's Eve becomes the 53rd graded/group winner for Kitten's Joy and his third winner of the Edgewood. Elusive Quality is the broodmare sire of 40 graded/group winners in the Northern Hemisphere, and 25 more south of the equator.
The winner's dam was a two-time winner in Brazil and is half to Brazilian Group 1 winner and U.S. GISP Viva Rafaela (Brz) (Know Heights {Ire}). She has a 2-year-old colt named Will Take Cash (Will Take Charge) who was a $42,000 KEESEP buy by J. Kirk and Judy Robison. Barren in her subsequent mating, Awesome Rafaela was carrying a Volatile filly (born Mar. 5) when purchased by Fergus Galvin–an advisor to New Year's Eve's owner Marc Detampel–for $95,000 at Fasig-Tipton's Kentucky Winter Mixed Sale in February.
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